Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary Eileen Cipriani visited JP McCaskey High School in Lancaster Wednesday during the Junior Achievement STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Summit, highlighting Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart proposal.
“Bolstering the STEM workforce in the commonwealth remains a top priority of the Wolf administration,” Cipriani said. “Encouraging students to pursue in-demand, STEM-related occupations provides them with an opportunity to explore jobs in various science and technology fields that lead to family-sustaining jobs. Additionally, encouraging STEM education and training provides employers with a pool of highly skilled job seekers prepared to meet future employment needs.”
The PAsmart proposal is a “new way of thinking about job training and workforce development,” the Wolf administration said. It seeks to provide targeted funding for STEM, computer science, apprenticeships, students and workers to receive training and skills needed for in-demand, middle class jobs. It includes $25 million to expand STEM and computer science education and training skill levels and $10 million to develop career and technical education and STEM career paths.
In the next 10 years, 71 percent of new jobs will require education and skills beyond high school.
Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania hosted the day-long STEM Summit program at high schools throughout the region where approximately 300 ninth-grade students participated.
“Junior Achievement is excited to be part of expanding STEM awareness in South Central Pennsylvania,” Tom Russell, president of JA of South Central PA, said “This year over 12,000 students participated in the STEM Summit. We are excited to bring the program to JP McCaskey High School.”